AFTER the unfortunate abandonment at Tyrella a week earlier, this competitive six-race meeting was greatly appreciated.

Arguably, the most impressive performance on the day came in the four-year-old maiden with Katkoriko (7/4 - 2/1 favourite) making all to win in facile fashion by 16 lengths.

A Goffs UK graduate when bought by Ian Ferguson for £30,000 as a store, this bay set a strong gallop throughout under Noel McParlan, before quickening up again off the front when asked after the second last.

The son of Cokoriko was ridden before the straight, but picked up to secure himself a ticket to the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale (withdrawn) this week, with his defeat of Largy River.

“He’s very good to jump,” Ger Quinn said of the Philip McBurney-owned winner. “Noel said he never dropped it the whole way round. He just has too much class and a very high cruising speed. We like him a lot. All being well now, he’ll head on to Cheltenham for the sale.”

Quinn and McBurney secured a double in the winner of one contest with the lesser fancied of their pair in the race, Cadoudal Saint (5/1 - 13/2).

The grey was always handy and grabbed the initiative when asked before three out. After a 154-day layoff, he showed a lot of guts to fend off the challenge of Only For Our Man, before staying on strongly to score by 10 lengths in the hands of Simon Cavanagh.

“He’s very tough” declared Quinn, whose tally was brought to 10 winners for the season. “The ground suited him there today, as it’s dead enough and the softer it is, the better for him. We’ll probably go for a maiden hunters’ chase now. He knows his job well.”

The mares’ maiden proved to be an enthralling watch for racegoers, as Order Of Justice (4/1 - 9/2) held on to what looked the most unlikely result on the last circuit.

The Gilmer Bates-owned mare took off into a 30-length lead by halfway, and kept this gallop up for a lot further than expected.

Her jumping really aided her case, but the five-year-old’s advantage did start to reduce after the second last, with She’s Delighted closing with every stride.

This lead was down to eight lengths before the straight and a quickly diminishing length at the last; however, she pulled out more when the eventual second got to her tail and kept on well to the line.

Novice rider Sam Hamilton commented: “She’s free going and jumps well. She works well at home, and we were slightly disappointed with her the last day, but she’s shown what she can do there. We think she’d be better on a bit of nicer ground and over a shorter trip as well.”

CAROLINE McCaldin recorded a double on the day, with the first leg coming in the novice riders’ open lightweight with Gorthill (3/1), who was somewhat fortuitous to score for the fifth time in his career.

He tracked the odds-on favourite Winged Leader and, when that rival began to turn the screw, he was beginning to be niggled along by his jockey, Darragh Hanlon.

The son of Rail Link was then gifted the lead, as rather strangely, the third winning-most pointer ran out at the second last, leaving Alan McAldin’s charge to saunter home.

The handler stated afterwards: “He was very good, Darragh gave him a very good ride. He schooled him last week and got on the very best with him. He’ll continue to run in opens just now.”

Stepping forward

The second leg of this double came in the older geldings’ maiden, where Spiddle Hill (7/1 - 8/1) took a big step forward to last home by half a length.

The Getaway gelding had never finished closer than 28 and a half lengths in any of his previous three outings, but this was a major improvement, as he showed a good turn of foot to quicken around the two main market principles.

After travelling strongly under Declan Lavery, this Wilson Dennison-owned six-year-old chesnut managed to hold on close home from the fast-finishing Occupational Force, who remains a very expensive maiden on the back of his price as a store.

“That was a huge improvement, he jumped very well and stayed on strongly to the line,” McCaldin reported of Spiddle Hill, whose dam is a half-sister to the Grade 1-placed hurdler Mt Leinster.

“He’s forward going, so I thought Decky gave him a very good ride to settle him and let him finish out his race like that. He’ll head to a winners’ race now.”

THE five-year-old geldings’ maiden was an open contest on paper with many intertwining form links; however, it was ultimately won in good style by My Life Be Like (7/2 – 4/1).

David Christie had purchased the gelding from Colin Bowe after his first two runs and, following a very encouraging debut for his new yard when narrowly edged out by a highly regarded victor over this course and distance last month, the son of Getaway was ridden quietly by Barry O’Neill.

He only started to make his move before the second last, before he then quickened again early in the straight and put the race to bed in a matter of strides to win eased down by seven lengths from Largy Panic.

“He is improving with every run,” David Christie junior said. “It’s nice to see him handle that cut in the ground, as it’s very different from the last day and great to see him maturing away there today. I’m delighted for his owners [Shane Wilson and Jamesy Hagan], because he’s a new horse for us in the yard.”

Horse to Follow

A Chara (P. Turley): Purchased for €25,000, she was jumping and travelling well before being halted in her tracks when hampered by a faller after the third last, before then making a shuddering error at the next. She should have a great chance on her next start with a clear round.